I just got word that the S9 will have a micro-B USB connection. Sure its a standard USB, but very uncommon, so it might as well be proprietary. It is the same connection that the iriver SPINN uses. There is a photo of it in that review.

I know that many will complain about this, but the sacrifice would have been a thicker device if they would have put the fatter more common mini usb.

Well, Nokia (and other major mobilephone makers) are transitioning to micro-usb, replacing mini usb in their phones as the means för computer connection. So it means it's somewhat uncommon now, but will get a lot more common in the future.

To be honest, I'd prefer it to be propietary. Cables may cost alotl, but you'll get more functionality from that port. And the device will have fewer ports.

Well, if the loss of Wifi and no sd slot hasn't thrown you off being interested in the device, this probably won't either (like me).

Every player i've owned had proprietary cables(or small usb). The first mp3 player i had, the tiny Creative Rhomba, had these even smaller cables. Then the connector on the player bent after sometime and i couldn't connect it anymore. So for me everythings fine as long as the connector and the cable are firmly attached so stuff doesnt bend..

The only thing i haven't gotten yet; why aren't player manufacturers using bluetooth for wireless connection? I know there are different bluetooth standards, but isn't there one for just transfering data with a small dongle (or even built-in) at the pc? I don't know if the Zune does it that way, i can't buy it here so i wouldn't know.

I have a couple of "kits" that are USB A male to USB A female extension cables that have adapters to mini-B and several others. I'd like to see manufacturers include adapters from mini-B to their proprietary connectors. Yes, it would be something else you'd have to carry, but it would be smaller than a full-length cable.

The only thing i haven't gotten yet; why aren't player manufacturers using bluetooth for wireless connection? I know there are different bluetooth standards, but isn't there one for just transfering data with a small dongle (or even built-in) at the pc? I don't know if the Zune does it that way, i can't buy it here so i wouldn't know.

Because bluetooth is too slow and not that easy to deal with, i.e. some weird things happen sometimes that you have no idea what or why. Then there's different bluetooth stacks on computers, weird implementation on different devices, and once more, very low speeds. Blutooth is in no way a good replacement for USB.

And the Zune uses Wifi to sync. Not bluetooth. And wifi is not a good replacement for USB either.

Because bluetooth is too slow and not that easy to deal with, i.e. some weird things happen sometimes that you have no idea what or why. Then there's different bluetooth stacks on computers, weird implementation on different devices, and once more, very low speeds. Blutooth is in no way a good replacement for USB.

And the Zune uses Wifi to sync. Not bluetooth. And wifi is not a good replacement for USB either.

They are releasing bluetooth 3.0 within a year....so in the future maybe...

tah dah, the magic of google and amazon has revealed a 10$ replacement cable, its the same cable used on my motorola phone

Good looking out, especially since the proprietary cable issue is moot for me. I actually have a few devices laying around the house that use this, so I'm good to go, even if I lose the original cable.

bluetooth does have an interesting future ahead. I saw a video demo'ing BT 2.1 where devices were able to sync up simply by placing the two units close to one another. No more lengthy "search -> password -> pair" business.

Not sure if the S9 uses BT 2.1 (Samsung's P3 does.) And of course you'd need 2.1 on your other devices to take advantage of the intimate connections.

They are releasing bluetooth 3.0 within a year....so in the future maybe...

now what really would be a revolution is using bluetooth to share music with other people also having mp3 players or phones with bluetooth. would be real nice if they would do this
OT: I think the cable is fine. it is not proprietary it is a small version of USB IMO

now what really would be a revolution is using bluetooth to share music with other people also having mp3 players or phones with bluetooth. would be real nice if they would do this
OT: I think the cable is fine. it is not proprietary it is a small version of USB IMO

Hasn't the zune already done something like this? Like, you could share songs with other zune users, IIRC it was heavily restricted though and not bluetooth of course. It also couldn't be done without any restriction because the music labels would probably sue the players manufacturer for illegal distribution or something.

Also thanks for the other people responding to my bluetooth question. I do hope that we see in the future though (like 2010 or 2011), atleast testwise for major mp3player-companies.